Stitched Up

WORKSHOPS // We ran a wellbeing embroidery workshop at Bruntwood's venue at Alderley Edge.

We taught the principles of embroidery, and everyone got to make these Serotonin chemical embroideries to use as a patch, or as a piece of art for their home.
https://stitchedup.coop/about/for-groups/

WORKSHOPS // In celebration of RABBITS, an exhibition by .ford at , we're running a Bear Repair workshop this Saturday 15th June, 2-4pm.

Whether it’s a ted from your childhood or a current fluffy pal (it doesn't have to be a bear!), we’ll be exploring the different ways we can repair them with invisible mending, patchwork repairs or sewing machine mends.

At this workshop you’ll learn how to re-stuff, patch up and revive your fave fluffy friends, using hand and machine sewing techniques, to give them a new lease of life!

https://buryartmuseum.co.uk/What-s-On

EVENTS // It's TODAY! 🥳♻️🛠️🌎
The triumpant return of
10am-12pm at St Margarets Centre, M21
And on the second Saturday of the month going forwards.
Info 👇
https://bookwhen.com/stitchedup/e/ev-swhc-20240608100000

WHAT'S ON // Don't mind us, welcoming in the month of June nearly a week in... Listen, it's been a hectic week OK?
Anyway... HI JUNE! 🌷🍨🌼😎
Here's what's happening this month - more on the website as always
https://stitchedup.coop/whats-on/

Our Sarah had the best time today at Levenshulme Inspire, helping a lovely bunch of people get their stitch on!

EVENTS // Why you'll love Wardobe Surgery ✂️👩🏽‍⚕️♻️

We've got more of these coming up, so we wanted to explain what these events are, and why they're great.

On the blog, we've got the top 5 reasons why our Wardrobe Surgery events are amazing.

What's your favourite thing about Wardrobe Surgery?

https://stitchedup.coop/events-why-youll-love-wardrobe-surgery/

WORKSHOPS // We CANNOT WAIT for this Masterclass with the awesome on Weds 26th June - part of our project.

🌿 SCDG Masterclass: Monoprint with Natural Dyes & Avocado Ink Making 🌿
Better be quick if you want tickets! They will not be around for long.

Info 👇️
https://bookwhen.com/stitchedup?tags=dye+garden =ev-szbs-20240626183000

WORKSHOPS // When clothes can no longer be worn by yourself or someone else, it doesn't mean it has to go in the bin. In this workshop with Intervention Alliance last month, participants learned how to transform t-shirts into a stretchy yarn, which can then be used to make coasters and bowls.

Get in touch to find out more about the range of workshops we can run for a number of different organisations ♻️✂️🪡
https://stitchedup.coop/about/for-groups/

HQ // As the eagle-eyed among you will have noticed, we've recently had to put our prices up - due to the rising costs of, well... just about everything!

It's not a decision we've taken lightly, especially in the current economic climate when we know that so many people are struggling. Keeping our prices as affordable as possible is super important to us. But in the end we weren't given a choice - it was raise prices or just stop doing certain things.

We wanted to be transparent about why we've had to make this change + where your money goes when you buy a ticket for one of our workshops.

So here's a price breakdown for our 3-week Learn to Sew course. A ticket is £95 per person.

It's based on a course being fully-booked, which isn't always the case. We do have a minimum number of attendees, below which a course can't go ahead.

As a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society, we don't have anyone sitting at the top raking off all the profits. Instead, all profits we make are reinvested for community benefit.

We hope this helps to understand our pricing. Thanks to everyone for your support as always! It means so much to us x

ONLINE EVENT // More tickets have been made available for this exciting discussion on natural dyes in a couple of weeks.
Join us, and to get into the why, where and how of natural dyeing. We can't wait!
🪴🎨🌍️

Tickets 👇️
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/why-natural-dye-unlocking-the-potential-of-natural-dyes-tickets-883239100927

PROJECTS // Up on the blog today, read more about our recent draft excluder workshop with .

Participants used reclaimed jeans legs to make the outer shape, which were then decorated and stuffed with fabric scraps. We love how people put their own unique flair on their draft excluders!

https://stitchedup.coop/projects-draft-excluders-with-future-directions/

NEWS // After being on hiatus since last year, we're delighted to announce that will be returning very soon - with brand new hosts and venue. Now that we've left Stretford Mall, we're delighted to announce that will be taking the repair cafe on, and we couldn't think of a better group for the task. Thanks so much to SPH for stepping in to keep this community resource going!

Expect to see some familiar faces as some of our lovely volunteers will be continuing to help out and help you fix your broken things.
We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported over the past few years, whether as a volunteer or visitor. It was, and will remain, an absolute joy to host this event. Long may it continue with SPH at the helm!

Keep an eye on SPH socials and the SRC page for exciting updates next week... PLUS, expect some exciting news from us about too!

https://www.facebook.com/StretfordRepairCafe

Keep fixing...
Stitched Up x

WHAT'S ON // Helloooo May 😁🌹😎💮🪴
These long sunny days are giving us LIFE!

Here's what's coming up this month...
With the warmer weather, our Stretford Community Dye Garden project (SCDG) is shifting up a gear!
PB = private booking (hire us for bespoke classes!)
We also have beginners sewing + lots more courses + workshops coming up in June + beyond..

👇️👇️👇️
https://stitchedup.coop/whats-on/

ONLINE EVENT // Why natural dye? Unlocking the potential of natural dyes

Monday 20th May, 11am - 12pm

Join us to explore the potential of natural dyes with textile artists, academic researchers and community organisations.

This online discussion brings together artists, academic researchers and community organisations to explore the potentials and futures of natural dyeing. It features talks from a range of speakers, each working with botanical colour in varied ways – from screen-printing, to planting community dye gardens, to experimenting with biomaterials, and more. Together we will explore the role of natural dyes in supporting sustainable textile production, connected communities and individual wellbeing, asking how natural dyeing could inspire new ways of understanding and caring for environments.

This session is organised by WOVEN in Kirklees, Stitched Up and the University of Manchester, and is open to researchers, students and members of the public.

Speakers:

· Jane Howroyd, Natural Dye Artist, WOVEN, Growing Colour Together project

· Nell Smith, Textile Artist and Print Maker, Hot Bed Press, Salford.

· Dr Jane Wood, 'Lecturer in Textile and Fashion Technology, University of Manchester

· Jo Eyden , Project Worker on the Stretford Community Dye Garden (SCDG) Project ,Stitched Up, Manchester

Chaired By:

Dr Laura Pottinger and Dr Ghada Soliman, University of Manchester

INFO + TICKETS >>
👉️ https://bookwhen.com/stitchedup?tags=dye+garden =ev-sw9u-20240520110000

This event is on the occasion of WOW Manchester - come and join us there for workshops in natural dyes on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th May.
https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/wow-manchester/

INSPIRATION // Every day is Earth Day. That is all.

COURSES // Pattern Drafting with Zoey is back!

If you've been sewing for a bit, you'll know that patterns, much like off the rack clothes in shops, are designed for a standard body. And we don't all have a standard body, we have our own body! (note: stop saying body 🤨)

On this course you'll learn to make your own bodice block and workable toile, as well as the skills to create your own patterns, or alter existing ones to fit perfectly, ensuring that your handmade wardrobe is one you'll love for years to come.

WHAT'S ON // APRIL, ARE WE HAPPY TO SEE YOU! 🌼🪺🌞🌷🐰

This month, due to a new schedule for our Public Programme, we thought we'd share some of the work we'll be doing around Manchester in April. Most are private bookings (PB) but the Stretford Community Dye Garden (SCDG) activities are open to anyone.

If you're interested in booking a private class for your group, drop us a line.
If you want to book a class for yourself, you'll find upcoming courses including faves like Garment Making, Zero to Hero etc on our website from May onwards.

https://bookwhen.com/stitchedup

INSPIRATION // How beautiful is this lemony Ganni-inspired number made by from £1 reclaimed fabric from our Yard Sale.
👆 THIS is why you should learn to sew! 👆
We l🍋ve it 😍

Reposted from :
I jumped on the Ganni dupe bandwagon and made my own tie front blouse! I worked out my own pattern and used fabric I got from the yard sale for £1. I’m so happy with how it turned out but just need some sunshine now in order to actually wear it… 🌞

HQ // This time last week were were finishing up the final shop day at Stretford Mall 😥

Thanks to everyone who ever came along to browse and shop our preloved fabric and haberdashery, together we saved tonnes of fabric from landfill ♻️

We'll hopefully have more on ways you can shop with us in the future soon, but in the meantime we've still got our Ebay shop open for fabric bundles 📦️

We're in the chaos of moving out this week, but stay tuned for announcements about the next stage of Stitched Up's journey!

COURSES // You too could be this happy by booking onto Learn to Sew starting 6th March.

Over 3 weeks you'll learn how to use a sewing machine, sew seams, buttonholes, zips, and all sorts, and how to tackle patterns!

Perfect for all beginners, whether you want to mend your clothes, make blankets for doll houses, or create a dress made just for you!
https://bookwhen.com/stitchedup/e/ev-sayn-20240306183000

WHAT'S ON // Hello March! 👋
Sunnier times ahead!
Here's what we have for you this month.
If you're booked on to a class, remember to check the booking info carefully, as all our classes are now taking place in different venues, from this month onwards.

Our sewing course with the Wai Yin centre starts this Wednesday - get in touch via the below contact details to register. We love running these, they're always so much fun, and we have the space with the 10 weeks to really follow what the participants are interested in - wether that be mending, making clothes from scratch, or anything else!

WORKSHOPS // Free upcycled coin purse making workshop with Stitched Up and Saturday 9th March

Sugar & Spice is a weekend of free workshops and events for all LGBTQ+ women to come together, learn, and uplift themselves and each other! Delivered by LGBT Foundation’s Community Connections team.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/upcycled-coin-pouch-workshop-sugar-spice-2024-tickets-841490760517?aff=oddtdtcreator

HQ // Hey everyone, a big update from us on Monday morning. Full 5 min video linked below - here's the TLDR version for anyone who ain't got time for that!:

We're not renewing our lease on our shop in Stretford Mall due to a combination of disruption due to building works, rising costs and impact of the cost of living crisis. We'll be closing the shop and moving our stuff into storage.

👉 Last shopping day Thurs 29th March 10am-5:30pm
👉 Last Yard Sale THIS SAT 24th Feb
👉 Workshops + classes have new venues (mostly Stretford Public Hall + Victoria Park)
👉 We're looking for new venues for our Yard Sales, Clothes Swaps + Stretford Repair Cafe.
👉 We'll be restarting Chorlton Repair Cafe this spring - stay tuned!
👉 We can't take fabric donations for now - pls offer on Freecycle or donate to charity instead.

❓👇 If you have any Q's, feel free to put them in the comments

Sending lots of love to anyone who's also struggling rn, it's tough out here! If you want to vent, we're here 💚💚💚

TikTok · Stitched Up Check out Stitched Up's video.

WHAT'S ON // Hello February! ⛄️ The last and possibly the worst (discuss..) month of winter is here! Let's get it over and done with, but not without a good dose of sustainable fashion fun as always.

Info on all events here 👇️
https://bookwhen.com/stitchedup =ev-sj61-20240110103000

PROJECTS // In the dark of December 2023, we took part in When the Light Gets In’s Responsive Resource series, first focusing on wool.

We helped the participants transform the samples into a series of gorgeous banners. Read more about the project on our blog today

https://stitchedup.coop/projects-when-the-light-gets-ins-responsive-resource-series/

WHAT'S ON // 🎆 Happy New Year everyone! 🎆
How are you all??

After a good rest, we're ready and raring to go with a nice full calendar of events for this month and next.

More details on the website 👇️
https://bookwhen.com/stitchedup =ev-svkb-20240107130000

THANK YOU // Thanks so much for all your support throughout this year. It's really helped us keep pushing on through, despite challenging times. We're off for a rest and regather!
Wishing you a very peaceful end to 2023 and great things to come in 2024.

Stitched Up x 🎄